Graduate
August 12, 2025
Receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Among rural Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Excess Weight
Successful weight loss is more difficult for those with OSA, and gaps in weight management care are more pronounced in rural areas. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) are promising agents to improve the effectiveness of weight management care patients with OSA and excess weight living in rural areas. We sought to test the association of…
August 5, 2025
Advancing Sexual Health for Cisgender Women: A Series of Studies Addressing Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, Vaginal Health, and Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenyan Women
Abstract Globally, high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) persist even in the face of effective antibiotic treatment, with young women living in Africa facing a disproportionate burden. Sexually transmitted infections can lead to dire reproductive health consequences for women, including severe complications and significant economic burdens related to lost productivity and quality of life….
Early Childhood Education and Violence Prevention Across the Life Course and Generations
Abstract High-quality early childhood education may buffer against social and structural drivers of interpersonal and self-directed violence. This dissertation examined associations of Head Start—a large-scale early childhood education program for low-income children, launched in 1965 as part of the War on Poverty—and violence-related outcomes within and across generations. Intragenerational analyses found that attending Head Start…
Retention, mental health, and scalable treatment programs for youth living with HIV: An exploration of social and behavioral influences
Abstract Background: Adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLHIV) are at higher risk of negative health outcomes including disengagement from care, viral non-suppression, depression, and anxiety. This additional risk may be partially explained by the substantial changes in relationship structures, cognitive functioning, and independent self-management of HIV that occur throughout adolescence, but age-specific data…
Workplace injuries, early opioid prescribing, and disability in Washington State
Abstract INTRODUCTION: From the late 1990s through early 2010s, opioid prescribing increased dramatically in workers’ compensation (WC) systems, following national trends within the United States. The increase in opioid prescribing coincided with an increase in overdose deaths and morbidity linked to prescription opioids. While subsequent policy interventions including Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) and updated…
The methamphetamine use continuum and associated risk factors among cisgender men and transgender people with male sex partners
Abstract The methamphetamine (meth) epidemic in the United States (US) disproportionately impacts cisgender men and transgender people who have sex with males (CMTSM). This confers a disparate burden of meth-related sequelae, including cardiovascular, cognitive, and psychiatric conditions. Among CMTSM, meth is syndemic with HIV, posing a threat to the US initiative of Ending the HIV…
Examining Mental Health and Recovery Following School Shootings
Abstract This dissertation examines the mental health impacts of school shootings in the United States, with a particular focus on the effects on subpopulations, gaps in existing research, and the importance of incorporating survivor perspectives into study design, interpretation of findings, and dissemination. Since 1999, over 380,000 students have been exposed to firearm violence while…
Understanding the Relationship between Child Maltreatment, Religiosity, and Adult-onset Anxiety and Depressive Disorders among Participants in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS)
Abstract This dissertation explores the interrelationships among child maltreatment (CM), religiosity, and adult-onset depressive and anxiety disorders using data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). It addresses whether parental religiosity is associated with CM and differs by gender, the influence of CM on adult religiosity and its gender dependence, and the association between…
Abortion Restrictions and Violence Against Women and Girls 15-44 in Missouri, 2012-2023
Abstract Abortion restrictions in the United States continue to threaten the health equity and bodily autonomy of those who can become pregnant, increasing risk for violent victimization. Research is needed to understand how abortion restrictions contribute to the normalization of violence against women and girls. This study used multiple interrupted time series analyses to examine…
Associations of Depression with Opioid Use Among Pregnant Individuals, and Rural-Urban Differences in the Relationships: An Analysis of PRAMS Data
Abstract Background: Depression during pregnancy affects approximately 15–20% of pregnancies and is associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes, including increased risk for preterm birth and inadequate prenatal care. It is also linked to adverse health behaviors, including opioid use. While research has documented associations of depression with opioid use during pregnancy, limited work has…
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